Mignon Read Online Free PDF Page B

all, everything’s in my name. But ’twould be a blight on the whole litigation to have a partner sitting in jail. Time is of the essence! And suppose he loses the store? What do they signify, a few bricks in Alexandria?”
    It was all loyal and warm and moving, except there wasn’t a word about the fix Mr. Landry would be in, not being able to sue, to claim his share of the partnership. So I said nothing about it, and went on: “All right, if we’re agreed on the plan, the next question is: Which of us sells him on it? You? Or, as I’d assume you’d prefer, me?”
    “If you would, me boy, ’twould help.”
    “Well. I should do something to earn my pay.”
    “And, in case he should resent it—?”
    “Better you stand out from under.”
    “Aye! For the sake of me friendship with’m.”
    We fixed it up that he should talk with the Judge Advocate in charge of the case while I was seeing the prisoner, and that then I’d report to him at the City Hotel. He took out his carte de visite and wrote his room number, 346. My heart gave a little flip flop; my room number down there was 301, which meant on the same floor. He said: “Come right up, without asking at the desk—the less they know of me business, the better they’ll sleep o’ nights. But, me boy, please don’t be all day. I’m seeing the little one tonight, and any good news I can give her, something to indicate her father may soon be free, will cheer her up no end. Will you bear that in mind?”
    “I’ll report by lunchtime, at latest.”
    “I’ll be waiting, me boy.”
    “And I’ll do my best to convince him.”
    “I’m sure of’t. And now, the question iv payment.”
    He took out a wallet as thick as a book, slipped a hundred-dollar bill from inside, handed it over, and said: “I believe you mentioned to her one hundred cash in hand, with one hundred fifty more guaranteed. Then would a small escrow downstairs, in care of the hotel desk, take care of the balance you want? If not, say what you want, and I’ll try to accommodate to it.”
    Now if plotting with him was called for, I would do it as long as I had to, but I gagged at taking his money. I stood snapping the bill in my fingers, and then not snapping it, for fear it would come apart, as it had a small tear in one end, a triangular jag half an inch deep. I said: “Mr. Burke, escrow’s according’s according—you ask it if you need it. With you, I figure I don’t—so let’s defer payment until I’ve done what you want. And I’d rather you took this back.”
    “But me boy, you’re welcome to keep it.”
    “I’d rather not.”
    “As you like, but if you change your mind——”
    “I’ll let you know.”
    And I handed the bill back, not dreaming it would become the bomb that would free Mr. Landry, and after that, almost blow me sky-high.
    Plenty of cabs for charter today, so I took one by the hour, and reported first to Lavadeau’s, where all the pirates, kings, queens, and harem girls were hanging on hooks, with her, Lavadeau, Veronique Michaud, and two or three others wrapping tissue paper on them, with mothballs sprinkled on. She took me back to a fitting room, a tiny screened-off place with a table in it and a chair, which she gave me, standing close so I could whisper. I told her what I’d done, explaining: “I’m pretending to go along, so he thinks he’ll get what he wants, a plea that’ll ring the curtain down quick. Your father, no doubt, will squawk like a stuck pig, but I have to gain time, and opposing Burke could ruin us. He must think he has things going his way.” She listened, pulling my head to her, and got the point, but warned me: “Willie, don’t be too long, don’t take too much time. I’m going out with him again tonight, to pump him, but from what he said last night, another note’s going in, perhaps has been already sent. And the more he spills in these notes, the worse it’s going to be.” I asked if she’d made up the list of the